Mahmoud Mashadani, chairman of the Iraqi Parliament on a four-day visit to Prague, told reporters the Czech Republic and other EU countries should increase efforts in helping Iraq’s reconstruction. Mashadani also said the Czechs should continue training Iraqi security forces.

The Czech government, which began assisting Iraq in 2003, allocated $2.5 million to various projects in Iraq for the 2004-06 period.

Miloslav Vlcek, chairman of the Czech Parliament’s lower house, said he expected groups of Iraqi parliamentarians to visit Prague to learn about Czechs’ experience in transforming the country from the communist regime to a democratic, open-market state, the radio report stated.